Chapter 35
Hinata and Kakashi walked to the place Kakashi asked Sasuke and Naruto to met. Hinata immediately brightened up when she saw them.
"Hey Hinata! We missed you!" Naruto greeted her
"I missed you two as well." Hinata hugged both of them
They were shocked by her sudden affection but they returned the hug.
"What's wrong Hinata? You seem quieter." Sasuke asked
"Hinata has something to tell you, right Hinata?" Kakashi put his hand on Hinata's shoulder
"Y-You know about my sudden confidence? Well it's not actually real. I've been faking it for you to see that I'm not weak or a burden." Hinata's stuttering had been helped by Kakashi but it was still present
Both boys looked at Hinata with wide eyes at her confession. To her surprise, Sasuke hugged her. His arms wrapped around her smaller body gently.
"You're not weak or a burden Hinata. You're the smartest out of all of us. Without you, we probably would be dead in Wave. Please don't call yourself a burden, you're stronger than you belive." Sasuke whispered into Hinata's ear
Hinata could feel her heart pump faster, her face glowing red. "L-Let's go before we are late!"
"See you all later, my cute Genin students." Kakashi said before he flickered away
||
The trio walked to the academy. Being back there brought back memories, good and bad. They walked in and saw a bunch of people, the hallways were crowded. Hinata noticed the Genjutsu on the door sign and the two boys in front of the door.
"Naruto, Sasuke. I can see a Genjutsu on the door and the two guys in front of it. Their trying to keep us from the third floor." Hinata said
"Excellent work Hinata." Sasuke said
"So you noticed the Genjutsu too? I thought I was the only one." A familiar voice said behind them
They turned around and saw Sakura. "Hey guys." She greeted
"Sakura!" Naruto ran up and hugged her
"Woah! Ok Naruto I missed you too." Sakura patted Naruto's back
Naruto let go and Sakura looked at the group. "Well it looks like I missed some character development. You all got a wardrobe change, it suits you."
"How do you and Naruto know each other?" Hinata asked
"We were Academy Buddies. I helped him with the knowledge aspects and Naruto helped me with the physical aspects of the Academy. Man I haven't seen you guys since Graduation, how you guys been? Is you're sensei ok?" Sakura asked
"We've been fine Sakura, our sensei is Kakashi Hatake." Sasuke said
Sakura eye's widened at the name. "Wait Kakashi Hatake? As in THE Kakashi Hatake? He actually took a team?" Sakura asked
"How do you know about our Sensei?" Naruto asked
"Kurenai-sensei mentioned him after she took my team as her students. She told us he never passed a genin team he was given. You guys are his first ones." Sakura said
"Yeah he told us that when we first met him. So you're team is taking the Chunin Exams?" Naruto asked Sakura
"Yeah! I can't wait to impress Ino with all the cool Genjutsu and stuff I learned under Kurenai-sensei!" Sakura thrusted her arm in the air
"Where's your team Sakura?" Sasuke asked
Sakura's mood deflated. "We got separated when I told them that there was a Genjutsu. They spread out trying to find a way to break the Genjutsu but there was too many people. Their probably near the front." Sakura said
"Ok but how are we gonna get through? Bet all these guys are too anxious to move for us." Naruto said
Sasuke looked around a bit, then saw the empty walls. "Guys, up here. Follow me." Sasuke used his chakra to walk up the wall and onto the ceiling.
The rest of them looked at each other and then followed.
"Just go home. Delicate rookies like you won't last a minute. We're just thinning out the herd so make it easy for us and go home."
"Real nice speech." Sasuke dropped from the ceiling, shocking the rest of the rookies
"Now both of you step aside and let me and my teammates through." Naruto and Hinata dropped from the ceiling as well, Sakura dropped as well amd reunited with her teammates
"And while you're at it..." Sasuke stepped closer to them. "Reverse the Genjutsu. My teammate can see through your illusion anyway. Me and my team are going to the third floor."
"What does he mean? We're on the third floor."
"I know."
One of the guys smirked. "Well well."
"You noticed the Genjutsu, huh?"
"Go ahead. Tell them Hinata. You saw it before anyone else did." Sasuke encouraged
"T-That's right." Hinata steadied her nerves
"I have the sharpest eyes and best analytical skills on our squad. I saw that cheap Genjutsu a mile away without my eyes." Hinata said
"Yeah, our teammate saw through the illusion too!" Kiba, Shino, and Sakura stepped forward
"This is only the second floor. You're trying to keep us here." Sakura said
And just like that, the Genjutsu broke. Revealing the true floor number.
"Well aren't you two the smart ones? So you noticed an illusion. Now let's see you deal with this!" The one with bandages lunged at Hinata and Sakura
Sasuke's eyes widened and ran to kick him away. They almost hit each other but a boy in green suit caught both of them with ease.
'Huh? He stopped my kick?' Sasuke thought as he saw the boy with no bruises on his arms
'That's some chakra in his arms. Kinda like Naruto...'
"Hey, what happened to the plan? I thought you were the one who said to keep a low profile and don't let anyone see our skill level." A another boy stepped up
He had long brown hair and Byakugan eyes like Hinata. He looked a year older than her.
"I know, but-" The green boy stopped before he saw Sakura
"Never mind, it's over. Forget it." His female teammate said
The boy in green walked up to Sakura. "My name is Rock Lee. You're name is Sakura, correct?" He introduced him
"Umm yes?" Sakura confirmed in confusion
"Please be my girlfriend! I vow to protect you with my life!" Rock Lee smiled
"Uhhh what?" Sakura said
"WHAT?!" Ino yelled out from the crowd
"I-I'm flattered but, Ihaveagirlfriend!" Sakura blushed as she yelled out the last part
"Oh. Oh! Please forgive me! I did not know you were taken! I will run 100, no 200! Laps around the village, on my hands, for asking such a question!" Rock Lee proclaimed
'He's not serious, is he?'
'200 laps around the village? On hands? That sounds incredibly exhausting and hurting.'
"Let's go Lee." The Byakugan boy said, grabbing Rock Lee's hand
"Yes! Let's!" Rock Lee blushed
Hinata pulled up her hood when she heard his voice.
'Maybe he doesn't see me and I won't have to face him just yet.'
Hinata hid behind her teammates as they made their way to the third floor. Where the first stage of the Chunin Exams begins.
Meanwhile, the two boys who were blocking the fake entrance dropped their disguises.
"So those are the brats Kakashi, Gai, and Kurenai have, huh?"
"I can't wait to see them in action."
"This will be fun. Not for them but for us."